THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 5, 1995 TAG: 9504050600
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
As a pre-teen boy in Portsmouth, Petey Sessoms and his friends had a springtime ritual.
About 10-15 of them would walk 3 miles from their homes in the Mount Hermon section to Wilson High School the week of the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. They would sneak in a back door, slip down the school's hallways and under the bleachers to get past tournament workers and watch games between college players performing for pro scouts.
``It was fun,'' Sessoms said. ``We got caught a couple times, but I'd say we were successful about four times.
``I went every year. We looked forward to it.''
But never has he looked forward to it as he has this year.
Sessoms won't have to sneak in tonight. He will play for Norfolk Naval Shipyard in the PIT opener at 7 p.m. at Churchland High School.
Sessoms becomes the first Portsmouth player in the tournament since Buck Moore of Christopher Newport University in 1986. Sessoms, who will earn his recreation management degree from Old Dominion in May, admittedly is a bit awe-struck to be playing in an event he attended annually from age 10 through high school.
``I always wanted to play pro ball, but back then you never think you'll be playing in something like that,'' Sessoms said. ``It's amazing.''
Sessoms knows what he does this week could have a big bearing on his chance to play pro ball.
``You really almost want to sit down and say a prayer that he does well,'' said Yale Dolsey, the co-chairman of the PIT's selection committee. ``He's somewhere in the middle of the pack in the second round. He's got a chance to move up to the early second round, and maybe in the 20-some range of the first round.''
Sessoms, a 6-foot-7 wing forward, hopes a good performance at the PIT earns him an invitation to a similar event in Phoenix in a couple weeks as well as the pre-draft camp in Chicago in June.
Sessoms averaged 22.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game this season as the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year. Sessoms led the league in scoring, but his overall game improved as he became a better defender, improved his drive move to the basket and increased his numbers in rebounding, steals and blocked shots.
``I don't know if he was projected to be a potential draft choice, but he's improved himself to the point where he has the chance to be drafted,'' ODU coach Jeff Capel said. ``He's really been working hard.''
Sessoms is known for his scoring. He is third on ODU's all-time charts and first in 3-pointers made, and he set a single-season scoring record as a senior. But scoring is the least of his concerns this week.
``I just want to go to the PIT and play my game,'' Sessoms said. ``I'm not going to force anything. I think the scouts know I can score. My main concern is to play the best defense I can play and run the court. They're looking for all-out hustle, defending and rebounding.
``The way I play could make the difference between whether I get drafted or whether I end up playing overseas.''
Sessoms said he took a couple days off after ODU returned from the NCAA tournament but has been playing daily and lifting weights regularly since.
``I think I'm in great shape right now,'' Sessoms said.
He's also talked to three agents, but hasn't come close to selecting one.
While most players in the tournament are focused on impressing NBA scouts, Sessoms also has a hometown contingent to to think about. His mother purchased 14 tickets.
``I don't think it will be that foreign to me since I've played at Scope in front of a big home crowd,'' Sessoms said. ``I'm going to take it like an important home game for me.''
And maybe after years of sneaking into the PIT, the PIT can help Sessoms sneak into the NBA. ILLUSTRATION: Staff file color photo
by CNB